Piper’s Alley co-owner Brad Smola chats with head chef William Duffy and customer Kenny “Uncle Jessie” Ray on the patio, which is under renovation at Piper’s Alley Bar & Grill. The patio will be finished in time for Saturday’s grand opening.
MITCH HOTTS — Digital First Media

Brad Smola wears a number of interesting hats: Auto worker, professional wrestler and paranormal investigator.

Now the Novi resident is adding another one — bar owner.

He’s teaming up with Roger Van Hove, his longtime co-worker at American Axle in Auburn Hills, to run Piper’s Alley Bar & Grill on Gratiot Avenue south of 15 Mile Road in Clinton Township.

“We looked at four or five bars and as soon as we walked into Piper’s Alley, we felt like it had a nice, cozy atmosphere with mahogany wood, handcrafted crown molding and a relaxed vibe,” Smola said. “We said, ‘This is it.’”

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With a slogan of “New owners, new attitude,” the partners will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday featuring complimentary hors d’oeuvres, gift bags, giveaways, signature drink specials, music from DJ Shaun, and appearances by the Jager Girls and the Bud Light Girls.

For their first venture in the hospitality industry, Van Hove and Smola decided not to make any extensive changes to Piper’s Alley appearance other than a thorough cleaning and renovating the outdoor patio.

Likewise, they won’t make any major changes to the menu — yet.

“We are not going to try to turn a burger joint into a steak house,” he said. “We’re going to keep it a neighborhood bar with good food, keep it classy, keep it a place to just come in and relax with your friends, your date, or just to watch a game.”

Duffy also has a variety of flavorful chicken wings, including a lemon-pepper one and a concoction called “Captain Dan’s,” named after a customer who combined a blend of hot sauce, barbecue sauce and honey for a sweet, spicy taste.

The bar has a full range of domestic and imported beers along with some local offerings from Dragomead Microbrewery in Warren and Oakland County’s Rochester Mills Beer Company.

The 2,000-square-foot building contains eight TV monitors for sports viewing along with two Keno sets. In addition to all of the Tigers, Red Wings, Lions and Pistons games, Piper’s Alley plans to carry World Wrestling Entertainment pay-per-view cards.

Which leads us back to Smola.

He and Van Hove worked for more than 20 years each in prototype quality at American Axle, but Smola has also dabbled in pro wrestling on the independent circuit and is part of Last Rites Paranormal Society, which investigates reports of the supernatural or ghosts.

“We have disproved more than we’ve been able to confirm,” he said.

Now Smola plans to focus all of his energy on confirming a good time at Piper’s Alley.